Estepona is once again ‘Living its streets’ as Autumn festival is in town, with games, music and culture

Free concerts, flamenco in an orchid garden, family games and a first-ever marathon. Here is your guide to the autumn weekend in Estepona.

If you have been hoping for a reason to wander the old town this October, here it is. From October 9 to 11, the town hall presents ‘Estepona Vive sus Calles en Otoño’ (‘Estepona Lives Its Streets in Autumn’). More than ten cultural and leisure activities will fill squares, theatres and public spaces, and many cost nothing to attend.

Friday 9 October: theatre, rock and flamenco

Friday opens with four pieces of microtheatre, running in turn at Plaza San Francisco at 7pm, the Casa de las Tejerinas 7:30 pm, Plaza Blas Infante 8pm and the Paseillo on Calle Real 8:30pm. Guitarist Steven Anderton plays songs by Dire Straits, Santana and Bruce Springsteen at 8pm in Plaza Casa Cañada, beside the St Louis Castle.

Choir fans can head to the Centro Cultural Mirador del Carmen at 7:30. International choir Love to Sing, formed in 2017, performs music from popular films and musicals to raise money for Emaús, the town’s soup kitchen. Tickets cost €10 from The Bookshop in Sabinillas, by phone on 628 163 977 or 659 772 448, or at the door, subject to availability.

Flamenco guitarist Salvador Andrades closes the evening at 9pm with ‘Magia Andaluza’ in the Parque Botanico Orquidario, Estepona’s stunning orchid garden where his group joins him for singing, percussion and dance.

Saturday 10 October: games, jazz and rock

Families have plenty to choose from before dark. A magical-universe escape room runs from 11am to 9pm at the Centro Cultural Padre Manuel, preceded by an hour of themed board games. Groups of eight can register for a slot through an online form. At 7pm, a gymkana starts from Plaza Antonia Guerrero, with sign-up from 6pm.

Creative types can try two workshops. Painter Ruben Terriza leads ‘Metamorfosis’ at 11amin the contemporary cultures library, with registration at bcc@estepona.es. A hand-painted jewellery workshop takes place at the old adult education centre on Calle Terraza, with 25 places per session and booking at arteunplan@gmail.com.

Music then takes over the evening with a huge variety of performances starting from 8:30pm

Sunday 11 October: a first marathon and trampolines

Early risers can watch the first Estepona Marathon, starting at 8:15am and younger visitors can bounce at City Jump, a trampoline park at the the exhibition and conference centre in slots from 10 to 1pm and 4 to 7pm. Evening then brings more music to take you well into the night.

Some events use ‘invitaciones’, which are simply free tickets, and places are limited. City Jump passes are handed out at the Centro Cultural Padre Manuel until Wednesday, October 7, between 10 and 12. There are 1,200 in total, with 150 people per hourly pass.

These 3 days are a full celebration of Estepona so whether you live locally or are visiting friends, this is a great weekend to meet neighbours, have some fun and explore the old town on foot.